A Linn County Circuit Court jury acquitted Jonathan Michael Farris, of Sweet Home, of first-degree animal abuse charges on June 2.
Farris was arrested in August 2014 on those charges after he allegedly threw a dog to the ground with such force that it broke the animal’s leg, Sheriff Bruce Riley said. Willow, a 1½-year-old brindle-colored boxer, had to have her leg amputated.
At the time, Farris admitted to throwing Willow to the ground, which caused her leg to break, according to Linn County deputies.
“People use this word ‘throw’ really loosely,” said Kent Hickam, Farris’ attorney. “Throwing out the trash, or throwing something out the back of a pick up truck.”
Farris threw Willow out of a sliding glass door onto a very narrow deck, Hickam said.
Several facets led the jury to their decision after about 10 minutes, he added.